Essential Oils for Diabetes

I found this post about diabetes and essential oils that may help. I like that the oils can be used topically, orally, or via scents. I hope you enjoy the article also.

http://daviau.myameo.com/ 

Essential Oils That May Help Lower Blood Sugar

By Jacqueline Marshall, Aug 25, 2015

Today, the healing benefits of essential oils are more than the claims of ancient tradition and alternative medicine. They are increasingly the stuff of science.
Not that essential oils will cure diabetes, but using them can be more than an odoriferous way to spice-up your diabetes management routine.
Essential oils contain potent biologically-active volatile compounds with therapeutic effects. The compounds enter our system when the oils are absorbed by our skin, the fragrance enters the blood stream via our lungs, their sumptuous scents influence the brain’s limbic system, or they are ingested in dilute amounts.

Essential Oils and Blood Sugar

Several of these essential oils are believed or proven to have an effect on blood sugar levels, including:

Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum). Research studies have demonstrated that cinnamon helps lower glucose levels, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, total cholesterol, and increases insulin sensitivity in people with type 2 diabetes. Cinnamon oil is generally known for its powerful anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-viral, and anti-fungal properties. Coriander (Coriandrum sativum). Coriander helps lower blood sugar in two ways. It demonstrates insulin-like activity at a cellular level, and it facilitates insulin release from the pancreas. Studies reveal that coriander also reduces triglycerides, LDL, and total cholesterol, and is associated with increased HDL cholesterol.
Davana (artemisia pallens). The davana plant is native to India. There are historical and anecdotal reports of davana effectively lowering blood glucose levels.
Dill Weed (Anethum graveolens). Dill stimulates the pancreas and helps regulate insulin. It is also known for its antibacterial, and anti-spasmodic properties.

Essential oils can also relieve problems that result from or contribute to diabetes such as stress, anxiety, pain, and insomnia—all maladies that may be lessened using lavender oil.
However, just because the lavender flower is delicate and smells lovely, does not mean we can take the potency of lavender, or any other essential oil, lightly.

Potent Effects: Use Wisely

Because essential oils are extracted from plants, people tend to think their influence can only be benign. This is a potentially dangerous assumption. If you choose to experiment with oils for diabetes relief, it is important to acknowledge their possibly powerful effects.
For instance, some individuals who report lowering blood glucose with essential oils needed to make medication or dietary adjustments to maintain target glucose levels and avoid hypoglycemia.
Other important considerations include the purity and therapeutic grade of the oils being used, how to best administer them (e.g., inhale, rub on skin, ingest), whether they mix well with other medications, and have age, or pregnancy restrictions.
So, before trying essential oils research them, consult essential oil experts, and work with your doctor to make their use safe and effective as possible.

From: http://www.informationaboutdiabetes.com/lifestyle/lifestyle/essential-oils-that-may-help-lower-blood-sugar 
Sources: Mercol; Diabetes In Control; Heritage Essential Oils
Photo credit: Thangaraj Kumaravel

Recipe of the day!

Quote for the day "All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast.  ~John Gunther"

Feeling excited to make breakfast for the kiddos this morning, while wanting to add the cinnamon into our diet I did indeed make some amazing pancakes. These are quite different from our usual banana pancakes.

Original recipe makes 4 largish pancakes, I doubled everything and didn't make very large pancakes. These cooked perfectly on the cast iron skillet.

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup almond milk
• 1 egg
• 2 tablespoons vegetable oil (we used coconut oil)

• 1 tablespoon maple syrup
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon nutmeg
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil, or as needed

Helping mom today!

Directions

1. Mix flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl.
2. Whisk milk, egg, 2 tablespoons vegetable oil, maple syrup, cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves together in a separate bowl. Stir milk mixture into flour mixture until just blended.
3. Heat 2 teaspoons vegetable oil on a griddle over medium heat; pour about 1/4 cup batter onto the hot griddle. Cook until bubbles begin to form on top of pancakes, 3 to 5 minutes (with the cast iron it was 5 minutes then closer to 1-2 by the time we finished). Flip and cook until second side is golden brown, 3 to 5 more minutes (same as above with the cast iron). Repeat with remaining batter. 
4. Enjoy the pancakes! 

We put syrup and almond butter on the pancakes, and it was AMAZING. However next time we will be trying some apples or bananas also!
These took a total of 20 minutes to make and eat! 

Wholeness Healings

Changing of the Seasons

It has truly been the most intense whirlwind of life events over the last year!  As we come to December I look back over the last few months with gratitude and amazement. Between a new home, pets, and work, life around here has been very fast paced.
I am delighted to say that I have finally begun working more intently on wholenesshealings.com! Along with this I will be enjoying creating, a weekly blog, with such topics as Herb of the week!   This week happens to be Cinnamon.  I will post fun recipes and healthy uses throughout the week.  With the topics each week I will be adding enjoyable information about how the different herbs can be beneficial or harmful to out pets both indoor or outdoor.

Looking forward to this weeks first recipe today: We used almond milk!
Cinnamon Hot Chocolate

Stay warm in this winter weather with those ones closest to you!